PROPOSED TRANSFER OF NIS PRODUCTION RESPONSIBILITY FROM HEW TO BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01153A000100150013-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 2, 1999
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: June 17, 1966
• Content Type: PAPER

Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01463A000100150013-1
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01153A000100150013-1
 SECRET
SECRET
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17 June 1966
Talking Paper
SUBJECT: Proposed Transfer of NIS Production Responsibility
from HEW to Bureau of the Census
The NIS Program
The National Intelligence Survey is an interagency program established
in 1948 to provide the Government with coordinated intelligence on the basic
and relatively unchanging characteristics of foreign countries. An NSCID
laid on the Program as a consequence of World War II experience with
critical gaps in basic intelligence.
The idea underlying the Program is to have intelligence available,
on hand, when the need arises. To that end, a broad topical outline was
adopted covering such factors as military geography, transportation,
sociological, political, economic and military. These topics are covered
in separately published NIS sections, on a selective basis as appropriate
to the country.
A particularly important element of the NIS Program. is the allocation
of production responsibility. By National Security Council Directive the
DCI was enjoined to utilize all appropriate resources of the Government
in the production of intelligence, including the non-USIB agencies. In this
way the NIS Program utilizes the specialized know-how and production
capability of all agencies. In addition to the USIB agencies, the Departments
of Commerce, Labor, Agriculture, HEW, Interior, have meaningfully
contributed to the national intelligence production effort.
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Current Situation:
The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has been
responsible for the production of certain sociological units of the NIS:
Characteristics of the People; Religion, Education and Public Information;
and Welfare. HEW has advised the CIA that it wanted the International
Survey Staff of HEW (the group doing the NIS work) transferred to another
agency, explaining that Secretary Gardner did not want passage of two
upcoming bills jeopardized because of an HEW-CIA relationship.
Subsequently, HEW and CIA tried and failed to have the Department of State
assume this NIS responsibility. CIA is not an appropriate locus for this
Staff because the HEW personnel want to retain Civil Service status and
several are beyond CIA retirement age.
The CIA Director of Basic Intelligence then consulted the Bureau
of the Census where the reaction to producing this sociological intelligence
met with a generally favorable response. It was explained, however, that
basic consideration of Census' mission had to be vreighed before the Bureau
and the Department of Commerce could reach a decision.
Role of Department of Commerce in NIS:
Commerce is now responsible for some Free World economic units
of the NIS -- Manufacturing and Construction, Trade and Finance, and
Population -- accomplished by the Bureau of International Commerce,
the Business and Defense Services Administration, and the Bureau of the
Census. We believe this relationshi has en a l~vv 1
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The Bureau of Census' mission in demography could appropriately be
broadened, we believe, to include the sociological units of the NIS. There
is nowhere else in the Government where it would be more appropriate.
The sociological sections are a key element of the NIS Program.
We are also witnessing a growing demand for sophisticated intelligence
on how people live, think, and react as our national security interests
expand, particularly as to the developing nations. The loss of a trained
group, attuned to sociological intelligence needs, would be more than unfortunate.
What is involved:
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This money already has been allocated. The HEW Table of Organization
comprises 20 full-time employees, GS-4 to GS-15, with an average grade
of 10. 3. HEW has agreed to provide space and administrative housekeeping
on an ad hoc basis for the 20 personnel involved for up to three months
beyond 30 June.
For your information:
On the basis of past experience with the Bureau of the Census,
we know that their unit cost for production will be higher than HEW's cost.
Adjustments in schedule or in total funds to be made available is to be
expected if Census undertakes the work.
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